If you love robust black teas or smoky flavors this is the tea for you. Hot or cold, lapsang souchong tastes just like a fall campfire.

What is Lapsang Souchong Tea?

• Lapsang souchong is a black tea with a distinct smoky flavor.
• This tea is also known as smoked tea.
• The smoky flavor comes from pine needles that are burned during processing so that the tea absorbs the smoke as it dries.
• The strong flavor is an acquired taste so you either love it or hate it. 
• Originated in Wuyi mountain in Fujian, China.
• Some consider lapsang souchong the earliest black tea ever.

Get brewing guides for other black teas like Ceylon, Assam, and English Breakfast.

What You’ll Need

TO MAKE HOT LAPSANG SOUCHONG TEA

• Loose or sachet lapsang souchong tea
• Filtered water
• Teapot with strainer
• Electric kettle with temperature setting

TO MAKE COLD BREW ICED LAPSANG SOUCHONG TEA

• Loose or sachet lapsang souchong tea
• Filtered water
• Teapot with strainer or cold brew pitcher
• Ice

My Lapsang Souchong Tea Pick:

How to Make Hot Lapsang Souchong Tea Properly

STEP 1: Boil water. 

It’s best to boil filtered water. Try not to use tap water since your tea will only taste as good as the water it’s brewed in.

You want the water set to 208°F, or just under a full boil. For accuracy, I like to boil water using an electric kettle with a temperature setting.

Always boil extra water to use for warming up the teapot. 

STEP 2: Warm up teapot. 

Swirl a bit of the boiled water around in a teapot. Once the teapot is warm to the touch, throw the water out.

Warming up the teapot prevents any big temperature drops while the tea is brewing. 

STEP 3: Put lapsang souchong tea into teapot and add hot water.

STEP 4: Cover teapot and steep for 5 minutes. 

Keep the teapot covered while it steeps so the water stays hot.

STEP 5: Strain lapsang souchong leaves and pour hot tea into a teacup.

RELATED: Top 10 Tea Sommelier Tips

How to Make Iced Lapsang Souchong Tea Properly

The best way to make iced lapsang souchong is by cold brewing it. Roasted and smoked teas always make for refreshing iced tea. 

STEP 1: Put lapsang souchong tea and cool or room temperature water in a pitcher or glass container. 

Use filtered water — it makes the best tasting cold brewed tea. 

STEP 2: Cover pitcher and put in refrigerator for at least 12 hours. 

STEP 3: Strain lapsang souchong tea leaves and pour tea into cup with ice.

Cold brewed tea is already chilled, so there’s no need to add ice unless you prefer it that way. 

RELATED: Bacon & Lapsang Souchong Cookies

Serving Suggestions

I drink hot and iced lapsang souchong without anything else added, which is the traditional way of drinking it.

If you want to add a little something extra, try adding a slice of lemon, honey, or vanilla enhances the smokiness.

To sweeten your cold brew, use simple syrup since it incorporates the best. 

Simple syrup is easy to make at home by mixing equal parts sugar and hot water until the sugar dissolves.

Notes & Tips

• Some of lower quality versions of this tea are actually flavored instead of actually smoked. Ask the tea seller how the tea was made.
• A great black tea for making cocktails or to use in recipes due to its unique smoky flavor.
• The great thing about cold brew tea is that it doesn’t get cloudy.

Storage Tips

Brewed tea can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container (glass is best) for up to 4 days.

Tea leaves, sachets, and tea bags should be kept in an airtight container away from light, odor, humidity, and heat.

RELATED: How to Store Tea Properly

Questions You May Have

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